Intro to Dirt Touring - Montana

Physical Difficulty - Intermediate

Characterized by rolling terrain and medium-distance days (40–60 miles per day). Intermediate tours can involve some climbing, but the climbs are usually shorter (1–2 miles), and the grade tends to be no greater than 6% for an extended period. These tours are best for individuals who are regular or semi-regular cyclists.

Booking Status:

Space still available

As the experts on self-contained bicycle travel, we’d like to share our knowledge by offering our Introduction to Dirt Touring course. Two days of open-air, informal campground discussions will be followed by four days and three nights of field work where we’ll learn the theories and skills specific to off-road bicycle travel and apply all that we’ve learned in a practical way. We’ll travel and live as a group would on an Adventure Cycling tour on the Great Divide Route: sharing meals, campsites, and friendship.

Note that you’ll need to come to this intro course with some cycling and camping skills as well as experience riding on gravel and unpaved surfaces. After finishing the course, you’ll be ready for a solo outing, a trip with friends, or an Adventure Cycling group tour. Upon completion, you will qualify for our Learn and Earn tour incentive!

Details:

For tour details (elevation, tour type, group size, and more), click on the
Details tab above.

Meals - Shared cooking

Your group will share responsibilities for food purchase, preparation, and clean up on a rotating basis. Vegetarian and special dietary needs will be accommodated, though food selection may be limited in some locations.

Accommodations - Camping

Overnights will be at private or public campgrounds with a range of amenities. Depending on the nature and location of the trip, these facilities could range from RV parks with hot tubs, to wilderness locations without running water. Overnight facilities vary, but tents are typically pitched on large, flat, grassy areas. You will need a good freestanding tent with a ground cloth, a sleeping bag rated appropriately for the season and elevation of your tour, and a sleeping pad.

Type - Education

Educational courses are geared towards teaching you skills and Adventure Cycling’s philosophy on bicycle touring. Introduction to road and dirt touring courses teach you the basics of bicycle touring, while Leadership Training Courses are designed to teach the fundamentals of leading a self-contained bicycle tour.

Technical Difficulty - Easy to moderate

Characterized by travel mostly on hard-packed dirt roads and trails, Easy to Moderate Technical Difficulty tours can typically be ridden on a rigid-frame bike with a tire size of 35–42mm. This technical rating may also be applied to tours with mixed paved/dirt surfaces.

Physical Difficulty - Intermediate

Characterized by rolling terrain and medium-distance days (40–60 miles per day). Intermediate tours can involve some climbing, but the climbs are usually shorter (1–2 miles), and the grade tends to be no greater than 6% for an extended period. These tours are best for individuals who are regular or semi-regular cyclists.

Level Of Support - Education

Educational courses are geared towards teaching you skills and Adventure Cycling’s philosophy on bicycle touring. Introduction to road and dirt touring courses teach you the basics of bicycle touring, while Leadership Training Courses are designed to teach the fundamentals of leading a self-contained bicycle tour.

Cost:

$669.00

Unsuitable Bicycle Types:

E-Bike, E-Trike

Additional Information

Bike Shop Info:

Glacier Cyclery in Whitefish, Montana, can provide a rental bicycle and equipment for your tour. RESERVATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED, especially during the peak rental season of July–August. Glacier Cyclery has a wide variety of bikes for rent, including full suspension and hardtail mountain bikes, touring road bikes, and fat bikes. Touring bikes come equipped with a rear rack. Given advance notice, Glacier Cyclery can install a rear rack on their hardtail mountain bike. B.O.B. trailers are also available and can be installed on hardtail bikes if desired.

Contact Glacier Cyclery for more information:

Glacier Cyclery, 406.862.6446, www.glaciercyclery.com

Overview

As the experts on self-contained bicycle travel, we’d like to share our knowledge by offering our Introduction to Dirt Touring (IDT) course. Two days of open-air, informal campground discussions will be followed by four days and three nights of field work where we’ll not only have a chance to learn more about the theories and skills specific to off-road bicycle travel, but we’ll also apply all that we’ve learned in a practical way. We’ll travel and live as a group would on an Adventure Cycling tour on the Great Divide Route: sharing meals, campsites, and friendship.

Note that you’ll need to come to this intro course with some cycling and camping skills as well as experience riding on gravel and unpaved surfaces. After finishing the course, you’ll be ready to hit the trail on a loaded off-road tour, whether it’s a solo outing, a trip with friends, or an Adventure Cycling group tour. Upon completion, you will qualify for our Learn and Earn tour incentive!

Day 1

We’ll begin our class with an orientation meeting to introduce you to your course advisors and the classmates with whom you’ll share your six-day adventure. There will be a discussion of the course schedule and general housekeeping rules. Once we are all acquainted and have a general idea of the course framework, we’ll prepare dinner and begin learning how to live on the trail in comfort and style. After sharing our first meal, we’ll cover the week’s daily schedule, cooking rotations, group gear, and budgeting, among other topics essential to off-road touring. Once we know the basics, it will be time to hit the hay.

Day 2

At 7:00 a.m. sharp, it’s up and at ’em! Your advisors will cook breakfast before we delve into discussions about equipment and what a savvy off-pavement bike traveler should pack. Then we’ll address how to best carry all this critical stuff. We’ll talk about the classic trailer vs. pannier debate, which has become even more complicated with the advent of an array of creative frame-mounted packs, which many bikepackers favor. After we sort out the gear issues, it will be time for a well-deserved, hearty lunch.

Following the lunch break, we’ll discuss what it’s like to live off the road, exploring topics of safety, backcountry touring skills, attitude and etiquette, and general touring rules. Then we’ll put some of this newly acquired knowledge to work on a short ride — a warm-up for our multi-day adventure that begins tomorrow. We’ll also stop at the market and buy food for the next day. Learning what food to purchase and pack will be an important lesson; there’s almost nothing worse than a hungry cyclist! Returning to camp, we’ll enjoy an evening meal before settling in for discussions about the crucial skills of map reading, trip preparation, and preparing for inclement weather and roadside repairs. After another full day, it’s time to catch a few winks before we head out on tour tomorrow.

Day 3

Whitefish to West Glacier, 40 miles. Our journey begins traversing a portion of the broad Flathead Valley. The Flathead is bordered by mountains on three sides and Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake in the western U.S., on the fourth. We’ll pass through the bustling town of Whitefish, a mecca for mountain bikers, skiers, and tourists seeking world-class scenery. Our ride brings us to the shores of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park and the Crown of the Continent, called by National Geographic, “one of the wildest, most diverse, and intact ecosystems in the temperate zones of the world.”

Day 4

West Glacier to Polebridge, 26 miles. Today, we will make our way out of Glacier to the vast forests that border the park along the North Fork Road. We’ll parallel the North Fork of the Flathead River, one of the wildest rivers in North America. We’ll ride through what the Nature Conservancy calls “one of a dozen places on the planet that remains a complete and functioning natural system.” We end today’s ride at funky and fun Polebridge, a place totally off the grid, and the home of a handful of rustic cabins and “the Merc” — the Polebridge Mercantile. Not only is the Merc on the National Register of Historic Places, it’s hands-down the best bakery you have ever ridden to.

Day 5

Polebridge to Upper Whitefish Lake, 25 miles. Our journey continues northward along the Flathead River until we meet the famed Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. We will ride a short but beautiful section of Adventure Cycling’s premier mountain bike route that stretches 2,774 miles from Banff, Canada, to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. On our way to Red Meadow Pass, we’ll pass through prime habitat for mule deer, lynx, elk, wolverine, and grizzly bears. As you approach the pass and Red Meadow Lake, notice the high slopes above the lake that are striped and fanned with avalanche chutes. Your climb up the pass is rewarded with a magnificent downhill ride to our evening’s camp on Upper Whitefish Lake.

Day 6

Upper Whitefish Lake to Whitefish, 26 miles. Our descent continues today, but be sure to hit the brakes and look for ripening huckleberries. While Montanans seem to put huckleberries into everything from pastries to pies, pancakes, and beer, there is nothing better than getting off the bike and chowing down on fresh hucks. As we make our way back to our starting point, know that even though our journey ends, the memories of our ride through the Crown of the Continent will never fade.

"I really enjoyed the people in our group. They were all great and willing to do whatever it took to make this tour succeed. The scenery on this tour was amazing. We rode past waterfalls, pristine streams, mountain meadows, valleys, mountain lakes and dense forests. We stopped and ate wild Huckleberries and wild strawberries which were absolutely fantastic."

2014 Participant

"The best part of this tour was the exceptional leadership and care exhibited by our tour leaders Sid Voss and John Weyhrich. Their experience level seemed limitless, and their willingness to go to any length to instruct/assist/guide our group made me feel safe and yet free to explore my own potential. It now seems hilarious, but there was a point in the tour when weather and terrain conspired to present some serious adversity. I loved that Sid and John were there for us every step of the way and gave us an opportunity to reach deep inside ourselves to get through it successfully and feel proud of our accomplishment."

2014 Participant

"I'm planning a Great Divide Trail ride for next year - either with ACA or self-organized so the Intro to Dirt Touring was a successful learning experience!"

2016 Tour Participant

"The camaraderie & dynamic of our group and the tour leaders was fun and so wonderful. As a stated earlier, the most fun parts of the trip were on the gravel/dirt roads & trails. We loved that!"

Physical Difficulty - Intermediate

Characterized by rolling terrain and medium-distance days (40–60 miles per day). Intermediate tours can involve some climbing, but the climbs are usually shorter (1–2 miles), and the grade tends to be no greater than 6% for an extended period. These tours are best for individuals who are regular or semi-regular cyclists.

Booking Status:

Space still available

As the experts on self-contained bicycle travel, we’d like to share our knowledge by offering our Introduction to Dirt Touring course. Two days of open-air, informal campground discussions will be followed by four days and three nights of field work where we’ll learn the theories and skills specific to off-road bicycle travel and apply all that we’ve learned in a practical way. We’ll travel and live as a group would on an Adventure Cycling tour on the Great Divide Route: sharing meals, campsites, and friendship.

Note that you’ll need to come to this intro course with some cycling and camping skills as well as experience riding on gravel and unpaved surfaces. After finishing the course, you’ll be ready for a solo outing, a trip with friends, or an Adventure Cycling group tour. Upon completion, you will qualify for our Learn and Earn tour incentive!

Meals - Shared cooking

Your group will share responsibilities for food purchase, preparation, and clean up on a rotating basis. Vegetarian and special dietary needs will be accommodated, though food selection may be limited in some locations.

Accommodations - Camping

Overnights will be at private or public campgrounds with a range of amenities. Depending on the nature and location of the trip, these facilities could range from RV parks with hot tubs, to wilderness locations without running water. Overnight facilities vary, but tents are typically pitched on large, flat, grassy areas. You will need a good freestanding tent with a ground cloth, a sleeping bag rated appropriately for the season and elevation of your tour, and a sleeping pad.

Type - Education

Educational courses are geared towards teaching you skills and Adventure Cycling’s philosophy on bicycle touring. Introduction to road and dirt touring courses teach you the basics of bicycle touring, while Leadership Training Courses are designed to teach the fundamentals of leading a self-contained bicycle tour.

Technical Difficulty - Easy to moderate

Characterized by travel mostly on hard-packed dirt roads and trails, Easy to Moderate Technical Difficulty tours can typically be ridden on a rigid-frame bike with a tire size of 35–42mm. This technical rating may also be applied to tours with mixed paved/dirt surfaces.

Physical Difficulty - Intermediate

Characterized by rolling terrain and medium-distance days (40–60 miles per day). Intermediate tours can involve some climbing, but the climbs are usually shorter (1–2 miles), and the grade tends to be no greater than 6% for an extended period. These tours are best for individuals who are regular or semi-regular cyclists.

Level Of Support - Education

Educational courses are geared towards teaching you skills and Adventure Cycling’s philosophy on bicycle touring. Introduction to road and dirt touring courses teach you the basics of bicycle touring, while Leadership Training Courses are designed to teach the fundamentals of leading a self-contained bicycle tour.

Cost:

$669.00

Unsuitable Bicycle Types:

E-Bike, E-Trike

Additional Information

Bike Shop Info:

Glacier Cyclery in Whitefish, Montana, can provide a rental bicycle and equipment for your tour. RESERVATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED, especially during the peak rental season of July–August. Glacier Cyclery has a wide variety of bikes for rent, including full suspension and hardtail mountain bikes, touring road bikes, and fat bikes. Touring bikes come equipped with a rear rack. Given advance notice, Glacier Cyclery can install a rear rack on their hardtail mountain bike. B.O.B. trailers are also available and can be installed on hardtail bikes if desired.

Overview

As the experts on self-contained bicycle travel, we’d like to share our knowledge by offering our Introduction to Dirt Touring (IDT) course. Two days of open-air, informal campground discussions will be followed by four days and three nights of field work where we’ll not only have a chance to learn more about the theories and skills specific to off-road bicycle travel, but we’ll also apply all that we’ve learned in a practical way. We’ll travel and live as a group would on an Adventure Cycling tour on the Great Divide Route: sharing meals, campsites, and friendship.

Note that you’ll need to come to this intro course with some cycling and camping skills as well as experience riding on gravel and unpaved surfaces. After finishing the course, you’ll be ready to hit the trail on a loaded off-road tour, whether it’s a solo outing, a trip with friends, or an Adventure Cycling group tour. Upon completion, you will qualify for our Learn and Earn tour incentive!

Day 1

We’ll begin our class with an orientation meeting to introduce you to your course advisors and the classmates with whom you’ll share your six-day adventure. There will be a discussion of the course schedule and general housekeeping rules. Once we are all acquainted and have a general idea of the course framework, we’ll prepare dinner and begin learning how to live on the trail in comfort and style. After sharing our first meal, we’ll cover the week’s daily schedule, cooking rotations, group gear, and budgeting, among other topics essential to off-road touring. Once we know the basics, it will be time to hit the hay.

Day 2

At 7:00 a.m. sharp, it’s up and at ’em! Your advisors will cook breakfast before we delve into discussions about equipment and what a savvy off-pavement bike traveler should pack. Then we’ll address how to best carry all this critical stuff. We’ll talk about the classic trailer vs. pannier debate, which has become even more complicated with the advent of an array of creative frame-mounted packs, which many bikepackers favor. After we sort out the gear issues, it will be time for a well-deserved, hearty lunch.

Following the lunch break, we’ll discuss what it’s like to live off the road, exploring topics of safety, backcountry touring skills, attitude and etiquette, and general touring rules. Then we’ll put some of this newly acquired knowledge to work on a short ride — a warm-up for our multi-day adventure that begins tomorrow. We’ll also stop at the market and buy food for the next day. Learning what food to purchase and pack will be an important lesson; there’s almost nothing worse than a hungry cyclist! Returning to camp, we’ll enjoy an evening meal before settling in for discussions about the crucial skills of map reading, trip preparation, and preparing for inclement weather and roadside repairs. After another full day, it’s time to catch a few winks before we head out on tour tomorrow.

Day 3

Whitefish to West Glacier, 40 miles. Our journey begins traversing a portion of the broad Flathead Valley. The Flathead is bordered by mountains on three sides and Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake in the western U.S., on the fourth. We’ll pass through the bustling town of Whitefish, a mecca for mountain bikers, skiers, and tourists seeking world-class scenery. Our ride brings us to the shores of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park and the Crown of the Continent, called by National Geographic, “one of the wildest, most diverse, and intact ecosystems in the temperate zones of the world.”

Day 4

West Glacier to Polebridge, 26 miles. Today, we will make our way out of Glacier to the vast forests that border the park along the North Fork Road. We’ll parallel the North Fork of the Flathead River, one of the wildest rivers in North America. We’ll ride through what the Nature Conservancy calls “one of a dozen places on the planet that remains a complete and functioning natural system.” We end today’s ride at funky and fun Polebridge, a place totally off the grid, and the home of a handful of rustic cabins and “the Merc” — the Polebridge Mercantile. Not only is the Merc on the National Register of Historic Places, it’s hands-down the best bakery you have ever ridden to.

Day 5

Polebridge to Upper Whitefish Lake, 25 miles. Our journey continues northward along the Flathead River until we meet the famed Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. We will ride a short but beautiful section of Adventure Cycling’s premier mountain bike route that stretches 2,774 miles from Banff, Canada, to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. On our way to Red Meadow Pass, we’ll pass through prime habitat for mule deer, lynx, elk, wolverine, and grizzly bears. As you approach the pass and Red Meadow Lake, notice the high slopes above the lake that are striped and fanned with avalanche chutes. Your climb up the pass is rewarded with a magnificent downhill ride to our evening’s camp on Upper Whitefish Lake.

Day 6

Upper Whitefish Lake to Whitefish, 26 miles. Our descent continues today, but be sure to hit the brakes and look for ripening huckleberries. While Montanans seem to put huckleberries into everything from pastries to pies, pancakes, and beer, there is nothing better than getting off the bike and chowing down on fresh hucks. As we make our way back to our starting point, know that even though our journey ends, the memories of our ride through the Crown of the Continent will never fade.

"I really enjoyed the people in our group. They were all great and willing to do whatever it took to make this tour succeed. The scenery on this tour was amazing. We rode past waterfalls, pristine streams, mountain meadows, valleys, mountain lakes and dense forests. We stopped and ate wild Huckleberries and wild strawberries which were absolutely fantastic."

2014 Participant

"The best part of this tour was the exceptional leadership and care exhibited by our tour leaders Sid Voss and John Weyhrich. Their experience level seemed limitless, and their willingness to go to any length to instruct/assist/guide our group made me feel safe and yet free to explore my own potential. It now seems hilarious, but there was a point in the tour when weather and terrain conspired to present some serious adversity. I loved that Sid and John were there for us every step of the way and gave us an opportunity to reach deep inside ourselves to get through it successfully and feel proud of our accomplishment."

2014 Participant

"I'm planning a Great Divide Trail ride for next year - either with ACA or self-organized so the Intro to Dirt Touring was a successful learning experience!"

2016 Tour Participant

"The camaraderie & dynamic of our group and the tour leaders was fun and so wonderful. As a stated earlier, the most fun parts of the trip were on the gravel/dirt roads & trails. We loved that!"

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